The Crossword Centre Clue-Writing Competition

CCCWC August competition voters’ comments
 
Clue no. 30: He probes cavities, leaving one with the runs, like prunes

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A clue to SPELUNKER.
5 comments refer to this clue (from 4 competitors, 1 other)
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Comments on the competition
1.
A nice variety of treatments, I thought, with some well-spotted near-anagrams, though rather too many leering punks.

5 points to clue 46, which I thought the better of the two Ken L. refs. – 'deep hole' is very clever. 4 points to clue 49, a brave attempt at an &lit. which, I think, just about works. 3 points to clue 35 for spotting the Kepler + sun anagram and the clever definition 'deep space explorer'. 2 points to clue 30, for managing to make something of the near-anagram 'like prunes'. And 1 point to clue 24, for a neat reference to Fingal's Cave.
2.
There's a hint of desperation in many entries this month, betrayed by tortuous subsidiaries, cryptic definitions and much padding-out. That said, we have an entertaining mix of allusion and invention to ponder, and so selection need not be merely a process of finding the least objectionable. However, I'll leave general complaints about particular clues to others and let my votes serve as praise.

There are many anagrams used here, and they provide an opportunity to discuss the fairness of comprising them in either indirect or complex fashion. 10 is an example of an indirect anagram – the solver must first find synonyms of 'colleague' and 'crept' and then test each of perhaps dozens of combinations of words for nine-lettered anagrams of the solution. This is an impossible and unrealistic expectation. In 36 one is expected to to find a word or words meaning 'gives dirty look to', then combine it (or them) with 'punk' in an anagram. Quite apart from the fact that the given phrase is equivalent to 'leers at', and not 'leers' as required, the task for the solver is simply unfair. Such clues should be avoided by all setters.

For complex anagrams shorter than the solution it's preferable to make up the missing letter(s) without necessarily involving them in the anagram. 8 and 15 are examples, although 8 muddies the waters by use of 'involving' and requiring the solver to provide a synonym for 'dope' (cf 36). 15's subsidiary is much better, having all the required letters included in the text and fairly indicated. 43,46 and 47 bring odd letters into an anagram, but in transparent style. 27, by comparison, might leave a solver searching for anagrams of GI+KNEES+UP. However it is more direct in its indication than 13 which might lead similarly to *(GRO+KEEN) + R.

14 is a fine example of how to remove letters from an anagram. The two letters are indicated clearly and in the same order as they appear in 'UK personnel'. 30 and 32 fall short of that high standard, 30 leaving one with a painful surface, and 32 needing some fine polishing after all that scrubbing.

Two clues, 12 and 19 attempt to indicate an anagram with one letter removed and another substituted. 12 might be more convincing if E, and not R, were the last letter of SPELUNKER. 19 does not amuse – irritatingly fussy.

Voting:-
16 Simple but subtly disguised subsidiary – nice def(s). 4 points
45 A clue with depth. Tellingly apt surface. 3 points
47 Witty and effective – 'batty' allusion most apt. 3 points
14 Finely crafted entry – off-topic, sadly. 2 points
24 Idiot caver is about right – a hard clue to crack. 2 points
35 Not sure about 'orbiting', but neat and sweet. 1 point
3.
There were lots and lots of clues with interesting ideas in. Of these, most didn't form into a satisfying clue in my view because of some:
– grammatical or linguistic strain 12 13 14 15 16 25 30 35 37 40
– loose definition 26 47
– long-windedness 6 18 19 21 32.

I gave points to the clues that were well formed and would have given satisfaction if found in a printed puzzle.

41 Neat. A bit of humour always hits the spot (even toilet humour) – top of this pile – 5.

I spread my other votes among 11, 22, 24, 39, 48 – 2 each.
4.
I wish one could eliminate clues by using some sort of filter, leaving a shorter (much shorter in this case) list on the screen to look at. That would leave me with 1,5,14,25,30,35,3947, and 48. I would be rather surprised to see any others in the top 5. None of them is perfect, but I pick 48 as the best.
5.
Clues 14 & 30 were very satisfying: 14 in a poignant way; 30 in a manner reminiscent of Cyclops. Difficult to allocate the remainder as many seemed far too tortured.